How To Make House Rules

For those who play board games very often, we tend to mold the game to better fit our style of play and our wants out of the game. These alterations are called house rules, and can make a game unique and special.

More specifically, house rules are new rules and changes to a game that the owner of the game has created and plays by. These rules are different from the rules that the game creator has made. For example, I play Superfight with house rules. Sometimes in the middle of playing we add house rules for a game. These don’t tend to be permanent, and only last for that night’s games. Other house rules are permanent ways of playing.

But how do you make house rules?

Is there a rule that doesn’t make sense?

There seems to always be one rule that is endlessly confusing that no one can truly figure out. And no matter how many times it is read aloud or to yourself, it doesn’t get any clearer. These rules are made to be changed into house rules. Find a way to make it more clear or interpret it to fit your needs.

Is there a more simple way to reach the same effect?

Some games want to have like 15 steps to get to one end. And half of these steps don’t actually make sense with what the end result is. And even though many people love the difficulty of strategy games, some of it can be unnecessary. If you can find a way to complete an objective in the game in a simpler way, than make a new house rule.

Do you have an idea you want to try to change up a game?

House rules are trial and error. You need to test them to see if they will actually work, so if you have any ideas for what to do for a house rule just give it a go!

What games do you make your own rules for? Let me know in the comments!